Tough Times Ahead For UK Van Market

Sept. 11, 2008
Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show UK van and truck registrations down 20.7% in August and up 1.9% to 387,645 for the rolling year

Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show UK van and truck registrations down 20.7% in August and up 1.9% to 387,645 for the rolling year.

Against that background, trucks were down 3.2% in August and up 20.5% to 58,553 for the rolling year. Vans were down 24.7% for the month and down 0.8% to 329,092 for the rolling year.

"August is traditionally a month for low registrations. That, and the economic situation which is slowing spending, means a big drop in van figures," said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive. "In the short term, van registrations will continue to struggle, though the truck sector is holding total CV figures close to the three-year average. In the longer term we expect an overall and marked downward trend."

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